1200 businesses face further monitoring

About 1200 businesses found to have underpaid their
workers over the past three years will be reviewed again as the
Fair Work Ombudsman strives to promote a culture of compliance with
workplace laws.

Employers who have previously short-changed their staff
$500 or more will be audited this year to ensure they have not
ignored advice and assistance given to them by Fair Work inspectors
in response to their past contraventions.

"We obviously frown on those who refuse to fix problems or
continually flout their workplace obligations so they have a
competitive advantage over others doing the right thing," Fair Work
Ombudsman Natalie James said today.

Ms James says employers who have previously received help
to understand and comply with their responsibilities are likely to
face enforcement action if they are again found to be in breach of
workplace laws.

Depending on the seriousness of ongoing breaches,
employers face a range of measures from Letters of Caution and
Infringement Notices (on-the-spot-fines) through to Compliance
Notices, Enforceable Undertakings and potential legal
action.

Maximum penalties for contraventions of workplace laws are
$51,000 per breach for a company and $10,200 for an
individual.

Employers in metropolitan, suburban, regional and rural
areas will be included in the National Compliance Monitoring
Campaign.

Ms James says the campaign aims to assess the level of
behavioural change among employers to assist the Agency understand
the drivers of non-compliance and to help inform future pro-active
compliance and education activities.